WEBVTT JAYNE: IT IS NOT JUST BALTIMORE CITY THAT USES THE BRESCOE INCINERATOR. OTHER JURISDICTIONS DO TOO. SO ONE IDEA, SUGGESTED BY THE MAYOR, BUILD A NEW REGIONAL LANDFILL. THE BRESCOE INCINERATOR IN SOUTH BALTIMORE HANDLES MOST OF THE TRASH PICKED UP IN THE CITY, PLUS TRASH COLLECTED IN SURROUNDING COUNTIES. MORE THAN 700,00 TONS PER YEAR. THE TRASH IS BURNED TO GENERATE STEAM. MONDAY, THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED NEW REGULATIONS CONTROLLING EMISSIONS FROM THE PLANT, WHICH THE COMPANY SAYS IT CANNOT MEET. MAYOR CATHERINE PUGH SAYS SHE WILL SIGN THE BILL, UNPERSUADED BY THREATS THE COMPANY WILL CLOSE THE PLANT. >> THIS INCINERATOR HAS BEEN HERE SINCE 1985. AND WE HAVE BEGUN TO TAKE IN TRASH FROM SURROUNDING JURISDICTIONS. THIS IS BURNING IN OUR CITY. JAYNE: WHEELABRATOR, THE COMPANY THAT OWNS THE PLANT CRITICIZED WHAT IT CALLED A RUSHED DECISION, NOTING IT HAS REQUIRED STATE AND FEDERAL PERMITS. THE BILL UNLAWFULLY UNDERMINES THE AUTHORITY OF FEDERAL AND STATE AGENCIES TO ESTABLISH SAFE AIR QUALITY STANDARDS. A COMPANY SPOKESPERSON SAID IN A STATEMENT. ESTIMATES BY PUBLIC WORKS OFFICIALS SAY THE IMPACT OF BRESCOE CLOSING WOULD COSTS THE CITY TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN NEW COSTS AND LOST REVENUES. THE CITY’S LANDFILL IS NEARING CAPACITY. HAULING TRASH OUT OF STATE WOULD COST $10 MILLION A YEAR. THE MAYOR SAYS COMPOSTING MAY BE PART OF A SOLUTION. ANOTHER, THE MAYOR, SAYS IS FOR THE CITY AND ITS SURROUNDING COUNTIES TO JOIN TOGETHER TO BUILD A NEW LANDFILL USED BY THE REGION. MAYOR PUGH: I HAVE ALREADY BEGUN CONVERSATIONS WITH MY COLLEAGUES IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS AROUND WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING. JAYNE: WHEELABRATOR OFFICIALS SAY THEY WILL CONTINUE TO OPPOSE ENACTMENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL BILL, INCLUDING THE POSSIBILITY OF SUING THE

Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh said she will sign a bill passed Monday by the City Council that puts new clean air regulations on incinerators.Wheelabrator, the company that owns the BRESCO Incinerator in south Baltimore, said it may have to close the facility. So the question becomes, where will all that trash go if that happens?It's not just Baltimore City that uses the BRESCO Incinerator; other jurisdictions do, too. So one idea, suggested by the mayor, is to build a new regional landfill.The BRESCO Incinerator handles most of the trash picked up in the city, plus trash collected in surrounding counties -- more than 700,000 tons per year. The trash is burned to generate steam.The City Council approved on Monday new regulations controlling emissions from the plant, which the company said it cannot meet. Pugh said she is unpersuaded by threats the company will close the plant."This incinerator has been here since 1985 and we have begun to take in trash from surrounding jurisdictions. This is burning in our city," Pugh said.Wheelabrator criticized what it called "a rushed decision," noting it has the required state and federal permits."The bill unlawfully undermines the authority of federal and state agencies to establish safe air quality standards," a company representative said in a statement.Estimates by Department of Public Works officials indicate the impact of the BRESCO Incinerator closing would cost the city tens of millions of dollars in new costs and lost revenues.The city's landfill is nearing capacity. Hauling trash out of state would cost $10 million a year.The mayor said composting may be part of a solution. The mayor said another solution would be for the city and its surrounding counties to join together to build a new landfill used by the region."I have already begun conversations with my colleagues in other jurisdictions around what we need to be doing," Pugh said.Wheelabrator officials said they will continue to oppose enactment of the City Council bill with action that could include the possibility of suing the city.

BALTIMORE —

Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh said she will sign a bill passed Monday by the City Council that puts new clean air regulations on incinerators.

Wheelabrator, the company that owns the BRESCO Incinerator in south Baltimore, said it may have to close the facility. So the question becomes, where will all that trash go if that happens?

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It's not just Baltimore City that uses the BRESCO Incinerator; other jurisdictions do, too. So one idea, suggested by the mayor, is to build a new regional landfill.

The BRESCO Incinerator handles most of the trash picked up in the city, plus trash collected in surrounding counties -- more than 700,000 tons per year. The trash is burned to generate steam.

The City Council approved on Monday new regulations controlling emissions from the plant, which the company said it cannot meet. Pugh said she is unpersuaded by threats the company will close the plant.

"This incinerator has been here since 1985 and we have begun to take in trash from surrounding jurisdictions. This is burning in our city," Pugh said.

Wheelabrator criticized what it called "a rushed decision," noting it has the required state and federal permits.

"The bill unlawfully undermines the authority of federal and state agencies to establish safe air quality standards," a company representative said in a statement.

Estimates by Department of Public Works officials indicate the impact of the BRESCO Incinerator closing would cost the city tens of millions of dollars in new costs and lost revenues.

The city's landfill is nearing capacity. Hauling trash out of state would cost $10 million a year.

The mayor said composting may be part of a solution. The mayor said another solution would be for the city and its surrounding counties to join together to build a new landfill used by the region.

"I have already begun conversations with my colleagues in other jurisdictions around what we need to be doing," Pugh said.

Wheelabrator officials said they will continue to oppose enactment of the City Council bill with action that could include the possibility of suing the city.